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Document Details : Title: 'At Present, Let Us Do What Lies Before Us' Subtitle: Some Insights from John Henry Newman for Developing a Spirituality of the Laity Author(s): ORSUTO, Donna Journal: Louvain Studies Volume: 35 Issue: 3-4 Date: 2011 Pages: 384-395 DOI: 10.2143/LS.35.3.2157505 Abstract : Blessed John Henry Newman’s commitment to promote an intelligent and educated laity is well known. As a great champion of the prophetic office of the Christian laity, Newman was convinced that only a well formed laity would be prepared to go out into the world and speak convincingly about their faith. Does Newman also offer insights into a spirituality of the laity that supports his vision of an active and articulate laity? A positive response to this question leads to two others: if so, where do we find these insights and what are some characteristics of this spirituality? After exploring some sources for and characteristics of Newman’s spirituality of the laity, this study will focus more specifically on one friendship and one sermon. Newman’s friend was James Robert Hope (1812-1873), a successful lawyer, who became a Roman Catholic in 1851. Their friendship spanned 35 years. An analysis of 'In the World, but not of the World', a sermon preached by Newman at Hope-Scott’s Requiem in May 1873, shows that Newman’s spirituality of the laity is appropriately intertwined with his views on the world, and the perennial challenge of how a Christian relates to the world. |
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